Studies & Degrees in Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering Study Programs
Computer engineering is the branch of engineering that designs and builds computer systems, covering both hardware and software. Purdue University puts the difference with its neighbour in one line: electrical engineering deals with electricity, electronics and electromagnetism, while computer engineering focuses on designing and developing computer systems, hardware and software.
Students start with mathematics, physics and programming. They then take digital logic and electronics, computer architecture, operating systems, networks, databases, software engineering and embedded systems, and finish with a design project. Compared with a computer science degree, there is more electronics and more work close to the machine.
The name does not mean the same everywhere. In the United States, computer engineering is usually taught in a department of electrical and computer engineering. In Spain and much of Latin America the usual degree is Ingeniería Informática, a broader computing degree in which computer engineering in the narrow sense is one of several specialisations.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree, United States. The bachelor's degree is the entry qualification for the profession. Purdue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering alongside its Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Some universities merge the two: since autumn 2022 the University of Washington has been moving from a degree in electrical engineering to a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
- Bachelor's degree (grado), Spain. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits. For the Grado en Ingeniería Informática, the recommendations of the Consejo de Universidades set 60 credits of basic subjects, 60 credits common to all computing students, a 48-credit block for a specific technology, and a 12-credit final project. The Universidad de Murcia teaches the degree on campus, in Spanish, over four years, with 240 first-year places and an admission cut-off mark of 8.157 in 2025-26. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) teaches it fully online, in Spanish or Catalan, with specialisation tracks that include computer engineering and computation.
- Latin America. Engineering degrees are often longer. Ingeniería Informática at the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) lasts five years and is taught on campus.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, and there is a specific master's linked to the profession of Ingeniero en Informática. In the United States, some employers require or prefer a master's degree in computer engineering, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Accreditation and admission
In the United States, academic accreditation is voluntary and is carried out by non-governmental organisations. ABET accredits individual programmes in computing and engineering, not universities; it describes its accreditation as a form of quality assurance and not a ranking. Check the status of the specific programme you are applying to.
In Spain, check that the degree is an official one (título oficial). Admission to a public university depends on the admission mark, and the cut-off mark changes every year and from one university to another.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 268 active schools for computer engineering. The United States has 76 and Spain 55, followed by Canada and Argentina with nine each and the United Kingdom and Chile with five each. Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Bangladesh, Ecuador and China have four each.
In the United States the list includes Purdue University, The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, The Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Northwestern University, San Diego State University and the University of Washington. In Spain it includes the Universidad de Murcia, the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. In Latin America it includes ITBA in Buenos Aires and the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Guayaquil.
Programmes are taught in the language of the country: English in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, Spanish in Spain and Spanish-speaking America. The UOC degree is offered in Spanish and in Catalan, in separate classrooms.
Careers
Graduates design processors, circuit boards and embedded devices, write the software that runs on them, and work on networks, systems and security. Many work as software developers. Typical employers are electronics and semiconductor manufacturers, computer and telecommunications companies, the automotive and aerospace industries, and research laboratories.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes computer hardware engineers as professionals who research, design, develop and test computers and related equipment. It projects their employment in the United States to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, and that of software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers to grow 10 percent over the same period. These projections refer to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between computer engineering and computer science?
Computer engineering covers hardware as well as software and includes electronics and digital design. Computer science concentrates on software, algorithms and theory. The two share programming, operating systems and networks.
Is Ingeniería Informática the same as computer engineering?
Not exactly. Ingeniería Informática in Spain is a 240 ECTS degree that covers computing as a whole. Computer engineering in the narrow sense is one of its specialisations, called Ingeniería de Computadores.
How long does the degree take?
Four years in Spain, where the degree has 240 ECTS credits. Some Latin American engineering degrees take longer; Ingeniería Informática at ITBA lasts five years.
Can I study computer engineering online?
Yes. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya teaches its official Grado en Ingeniería Informática fully online, in Spanish or Catalan.